Hutchison Port Holdings Limited’s (HPH) subsidiary Barcelona Europe South Terminal (BEST), has acquired a 20% interest in inland terminal company Depot tmZ Services S.L. Depot tmZ operates the Maritime Terminal of Zaragoza (TMZ), one of Spain’s most important inland terminals.

Commenting on the acquisition, Guillermo Belcastro, General Manager of BEST, said: “TMZ is a perfect fit with BEST’s semi-automated container terminal in the Port of Barcelona. This new acquisition will help us provide comprehensive logistics solutions by developing our hinterland network throughout Spain and southern France.

“Zaragoza is strategically located mid-way between Barcelona and Madrid and within 300 kilometres of some of Spain’s most important industrial areas including Catalonia, Aragón, the Basque region and Valencia. Combining TMZ’s ability to transfer containers to all these destinations with BEST’s deep-sea shipping connections offers logistics solutions that are efficient, economical and environmentally sustainable.”

The investment in TMZ will help open up the range of destinations serviced through BEST and the Port of Barcelona. In cooperation with other rail operators BEST has been working to increase the range and frequency of rail services including, since January 2015, a new direct daily connection to the Madrid area.

TMZ is BEST’s second investment in its growing inland terminal network. It joins Terminal Intermodal de Navarra (TIN), BEST’s existing inland depot located in Pamplona. TIN has been providing successful and innovative logistics solutions for shippers in northern Spain and South of France since October 2012.

Following the acquisition, Depot tmZ Services S.L. in Zaragoza will be owned by BEST (20%), Terminal de Contenidors de Barcelona (45%) and TMZ (35%).